Danger Quote by Woodrow Wilson
“I must beg you to indulge me in the matter of hyphens… You will find that I have marked out a great many in the proofs. We arein danger of Germanizing our printing by using them so much, and I have a very decided preference in the matter.”
About This Quote
Excessive hyphen use risks over‑Germanizing printing; the author prefers a restrained style.
In simple terms: Too many hyphens harm readability.
Use hyphens sparingly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- book design
- journalistic editing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does punctuation affect reader comprehension?
- When is hyphenation essential?
Changing style may alienate readers.